Storm window



y 7, 1968 I A. DE TORRES ETAL 3,331,416

STORM WINDOW Filed Aug. 12, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Alfredo de T arres John A. Marflns INVENTORS BY map M 5m y 7, 1968 A. DE TORRES ETAL 3,381,416

STORM WINDOW Filed Aug. '12, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m4 5% r f 28 32 20 F 5 r H 30 2034 6| 2 0 34 3 2 Il J J I l'i i T fig! J i w i .4 5 I 5 lg I! I NH 1 ll 1 l4 1, l2- 'i 72'? x 66 w u 50 Alfredo de Torres W /8 John A; Marlins 62 INIjENYOKS y 3 BY J Ammey;

United States Patent Mass.

Filed Aug. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 572,024 9 Claims. (Cl. 49-464) The present invention relates to a window construction, more particularly, the combination of a relatively stationary construction which in and of itself may be properly construed as conventional in form including, for example, upper and lower sliding sashes operably supported within the confines of an appropriate marginally encompassing built-in frame structure and which, in addition, has flat faced exterior ornamental or equivalent trim, a horizontal sill at the lower portion thereof and wherein a novel portable readily attachable and detachable storm window is mounted on and associated with the components of the overall trim.

As is thought to be evident from the preceding general statement of the overall combination, the window construction will vary and is to be construed broadly and conventional in character. Such being the case, the essence of the inventive concept herein under consideration has to do, explicitly interpreted, with a simple, practical and economical storm window which is so constructed that the principal component parts thereof can be readily assembled and the assemblage expediently and economically installed without encountering time and labor difficulties. Briefly summarized the storm window is designed and adapted for exterior use and can best be installed for efiicient operation where the window opening, that is at the outside of the wall, is encompassed by the aforementioned trim, that is vertical side trim members connected at their upper ends by a horizontal top trim member and wherein a projecting sill is situated at the lower ends of the vertical trim members. To the ends desired, the storm window relies for novelty on an upper section which has means detachably mounting the same on the horizontal trim member and fastening the lower corner portions thereon on median portions of the vertical trim members in a manner to accommodate the relatively movable companion or complemental lower section which is telescopingly slidable and adjustably mounted in whole or in part within the confines of the upper section.

More specifically, novelty is predicated on an upper section which is characterized by a flat faced panel, the marginal edges of the panel being provided with laterally projecting rabbetted or grooved members which constitute an encompassing rim. The rabbetted portions provide trackways which are preferably provided with spring means. The trackways serve to accommodate the vertical edges of the slidable panel which goes to make up the lower storm window section. Appropriate weatherstrips are provided to achieve a satisfactory mounting of the upper section. Latch means, of any suitable and optional type, is employed to secure the lower end portion of the lower section to the window sill.

In carrying out the preferred embodiment of the invention a flange is provided and carried by the top of the horizontal rim member and projects upwardly and is provided with holes or openings which can be hung over hooks which are fixedly mounted on the upper or horizontal trim member. Screws, nails or the like are employed to fasten the lower corner portions of the upper section to provide a box-like receiver or enclosure for the lower sliding panel section.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a View in perspective of a storm window constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail fragmentary section on the plane of the section line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a central vertical section on a suitably enlarged scale taken on the vertical line 4--4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a section of a fragmentary detail type taken approximately on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view detailing the two sections, the principal parts of the overall storm window.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the recommended neoprene strips.

With general reference to FIG. 4 it will be seen that the window construction, which is intended to be built in, that is solidly incorporated in the building or other wall, is characterized by a suitable encompassing frame structure 8 embodying horizontal and vertical frame members supporting suitable closures such as, for example, an upper sash 10 and a lower sash 12. The trim which is applied to the exterior surface of the wall comprises appropriate vertical components or members 14, an upper horizontal complemental member 16 and a sill 18 at the bottom which latter part may be considered as a component of the aforementioned frame structure 8.

The storm window is characterized by an upper section 20 and a complemental as well as companion lower section 2 2. More specifically the upper section comprises a flat faced generally rectangular panel 24 of suitable dimensional span to provide the exterior coverage desired. This section is preferably made from transparent commercial plastics of a suitable grade, the material employed being such that the panel 24 and its component parts are self shap'e sustaining. In other words the plastic material is light in weight and of proper gage for economical mass production purposes but is nevertheless amply rigid to be regarded as an appropriate prefabricated part. The top and vertical edge portions of the panel. are provided on the inwardly disposed side with coacting members 26 and 2-8 which provide the desired three-part rim. The members 28 are channeled, grooved, rabbetted or otherwise molded to provide guideways or tracks of suitable shape and size, said tracks being denoted generally at 30 and opening inwardly toward each other as shown for example in FIG. 6. The top portion of the upper section is provided with an upstanding straight across hanger flange 32 which has holes 34 provided therein, said holes being adapted to be hung on the fixed hanger hooks 36 in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 in particular. Thus hung the upper section cooperates with the trim members in defining a box-like enclosure for the coopera ble telescopically and adjustably fitted lower section 38. The lower section also comprises a flat faced transparent plastic panel whose upper edge is denoted at 40 and lower edge at 42 (FIG. 6). The vertical marginal edges are appro'priately grooved as at 44 so as to provide readily insertable and assembling flanges 45. These flanges fit slidingly into the channels provided therefor and the overall panel 38 is held in an adjusted position by built-in spring means. The spring means in each instance prefera bly comprises an elongated leaf spring whose flat central portion 46 is held in place by a screw or similar fastening 48 and whose end portions 50 are longitudinally bowed to provide the desired friction retaining result desired. For best results it has been found desirable to provide the lower left and right hand corner portions of the panel 24 with holes 52 to accommodate head fasteners 54. The fasteners may comprise nails or screws which function in the manner shown particularly in FIG. 3. Thus the flanged upper end portion of the upper section is hung in place by way of the aforementioned hooks 36 and the left and right lower corner portions are secured by fasteners 54.

Wherever necessary and to provide a desired seal certain surfaces of the rim members are provided with suitable weatherstrips 56 which are provided with ribs 58 which are keyed in place in the manner shown for example in FIG. 4. There is also a Weatherstrip 60 on the sill as shown in FIG. 4 to accommodate the lower edge portion 42 of the panel 22. It is within the purview of the invention to provide a keeper pin 62 at this point to accommodate a retaining hook 64 on a holdd-own latch 66 which is pivoted in place as at 68 and held in place by a coil spring 70. The particular device or means for securing the panel 22 in a down position is optional. This is to say, any suitable fastening means other than that shown can be provided. It is also desirable to provide the lower interior surface of the lower panel 22 with a finger grip 72 which is intended to serve in the manner evident from the views of the drawing.

It will be evident from the disclosure that the improved storm Wll'idOlW does not require the use of a frame and is made up primarily of the rimmed upper panel or section hung and fastened in place and the accompanying lower section, slide or pane 22 or 3-8 as the case may be. It follows that this section slides within the box-like r enclosure upper section and is adaptable to various intermediate sizes. Because of the versatility in hanging and the fact that it can be reduced to half its size, this novel storm window is ideal for users who desire to purchase prefabricated parts and to take care of the installation job themselves.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,

and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a relatively stationary window construction characterized by cooperable windows, upper and lower sliding sashes for example, movably and operably supported within the confines of a marginally encompassing built-in frame structure, the latter having flat faced exterior coplanar horizontal and vertical trim members and a complemental horizontal sill at the lower ends of the vertical trim members, and a portable readily attachable and detachable prefabricated storm window structure for exterior use comprising an upper section having means detachably mounting the same on the upper half portions of the vertical trim members and also in part on the horizontal trim member, and a companion complemental lower section telescopingly, slidingly and adjustably mounted in whole or in part in said upper section.

2. The comlbination according to claim 1, and wherein each section is characterized by a fiat-faced panel, the respectively cooperable p'anels adapted for mat-ed relationship and being made of self-shape sustaining sheet material.

3. The combination according to claim 1, and wherein said upper section embodies a flat-faced pane-like panel having marginal mounting and given position retaining means, and wherein said lower section comprises a flatfaced pane-like panel, both of said sections being made of transparent moldable sheet plastic material which is amply firm that it is self-shape sustaining in character.

4. The combination according to claim 3, and wherein the marginal retaining means is characterized by an encompassing rim embodying a pair of vertical spaced parallel rim members having coplanar channels communicatively opening toward each other and defining and providing guide tracks in which coacting marginal edge portions of said lower panel are shiftably and slidingly keyed for operation.

5. The combination according to claim 4, and wherein each channel is provided with enclosed fixedly anchored spring means designed and adapted to frictionally but yicldingly contact a cooperating marginal edge of said lower panel.

6. The combination according to claim 5, and wherein each spring means comprises an elongated leaf spring commensurate in length with the length of the complemental channel in which it is confined, said leaf spring having a median portion bent and fastened to a bottom wall of the channel and having its end portions bowed longitudinally and convexly curved in a lengthwise direction.

7. The combination according to claim 4, and wherein the horizontal trim member is provided with at least one pair of hanger hooks, the upper horizontal rim member having an attaching and orienting flange, said flange having keeper holes which are aligned and releasably engaged with their respectively cooperable hooks, the faces of the rim members opposed to said trim members being provided and faced with compressibly resilient weatherstrips, and fastening elements carried by and securing lower corner portions of upper section to cooperable portions of said trim members.

8. For use on and in conjunction with coplanar trim providing an outside finishing frame and bottoming sill for a wall-embedded built-in window-equipped frame structure, a ready-to-hang storm window comprising an upper section characterized by a panel having an upper marginal edge provided with a horizontal rim member and its vertical edges provided with companion rim members and rimless across its horizontal marginal edge, the inwardly disposed surfaces of said rim members being rabbeted to provide channel-like tracks and the surfaces of said rim members contacting the en gageable surfaces of said trim members being weather-stripped, said horizontal rim member having an integral upstanding hanger flange provided with holes to accommodate relatively fixed hanger hooks, fastener means for securing lower corner portions of said panel in their erected positions, and a lower section comprising a panel having vertical marginal edge portions slidingly keyed and mounted for operating use in their respective tracks.

9. The storm window according to claim 8, and wherein each section is made of moldable transparent plastic material, and also wherein each track is provided with anchored longitudinally bowed leaf springs having yieldable contact with co'actin'g slidable edges of said lastnamcd panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,503,018 7/1924 Beechler et al. 52-203 X 1,632,333 6/1927 Healy 49-463 X 1,740,960 12/1929 Roberge 49463 X 2,013,824 9/1935 Ensminger 49463 X 2,678,478 5/1954 Peremi 49463 3,002,236 10/1961 Humphner 52202 3,024,503 3/1962 Zoellner 52202 X 3,293,802 12/1966 Fletcher 49-465 X DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

PHILLIP C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A RELATIVELY STATIONARY WINDOW CONSTRUCTION CHARACTERIZED BY COOPERABLE WINDOWS, UPPER AND LOWER SLIDING SASHES FOR EXAMPLE, MOVABLY AND OPERABLY SUPPORTED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF A MARGINALLY ENCOMPASSING BUILT-IN FRAME STRUCTURE, THE LATTER HAVING FLAT FACED EXTERIOR COPLANAR HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL TRIM MEMBERS AND A COMPLEMENTAL HORIZONTAL SILL AT THE LOWER ENDS OF THE VERTICAL TRIM MEMBERS, AND A PORTABLE READILY ATTACHABLE AND DETACHABLE PREFABRICATED STORM WINDOW STRUCTURE FOR EXTERIOR USE COMPRISING AN UPPER SECTION HAVING MEANS DETACHABLY MOUNTING THE SAME ON THE UPPER HALF PORTIONS OF THE VERTICAL TRIM MEMBERS AND ALSO IN PART ON THE HORIZONTAL TRIM MEMBER, AND A COMPANION COMPLEMENTAL LOWER SECTION TELESCOPINGLY, SLIDINGLY AND ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN SAID UPPER SECTION. 